Web supply apparatus



May 18, 1965 R. A. BUTLER, JR., ETAL 3,184,364

WEB SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 18, 1965 R. A. BUTLER, JR., ETAL 3,184,364

WEB SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 327; angers flafiara 4?. fiaiier J1:

dad J arfon 7: Jierce by y 1965 R. A. BUTLER, JR., ETAL 3,184,364

WEB SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1965 R. A. BUTLER, JR., ETAL 3,184,364

WEB SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed May 22, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent ()ffice 3,1436% Fatented May 18, 1965 3,184,364 WEB SUPPLY APPARATUS Richard A. Butler, Jr., 218 Middlesex Road, Brooldine, Mass, and Norton T. Pierce, Concord, Mass; said Pierce assignor to said Butler Filed May 22, 1962, Ser. No. 196,760 8 Ciaims. (Cl. 156-504) This invention relates generally to web splicing and more particularly to apparatus for maintaining an uninterrupted supply of web to a web-consuming machine. In certain respects the present invention is most advantageous for operating upon fragile webs such as cigarette paper but features of the invention are also applicable to webs of greater thickness, width and tensile strength.

Conventional cigarette making machines producing as many as 1500 cigarettes per minute utilize paper at the rate of approximately 300 feet per minute. The paper is supplied to the machine in the form of a ribbon 1 1 wide wound on a roll approximately 21 /2 in diameter which meets the paper requirements of the machine for a period of approximately thirty-five or forty minutes. Because of the great number of cigarette making machines in use and the correspondingly great potential savings in labor costs and production time, many attempts have already been made to provide devices for splicing the leading end of a new web supply roll to the trailing end of a depleting roll so as to maintain cigarette making machines producing uninterruptedly. However, because of the fragile nature of the web, the very high speed of throughput and the substantial relative mass of the web supply rolls, prior attempts to provide such devices have either resulted in complete failure or have been so unreliable as to be unacceptable for practical considerations.

Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for supplying web continuously to a web-consuming machine.

A more particular object is to provide web supply apparatus adapted for splicing fragile webs without stopping the web-consuming machine.

Another object is to avoid breaking the web after a sucoessful splice has been formed because of sudden changes in web tension as a new web supply is accelerated from a stationary condition.

7 Still another object is to minimize frictional drag upon the running web from instrumentalities required for forming the splice.

In the achievement of the foregoing objects an important feature of the present invention relates to a supply roll accelerator adapted to being very precisely adjusted for supplying exactly the correct degree of torque input to the new roll. The amount of acceleration applied to the roll is regulated by variable spring tension applied to a cocked accelerator arm coupled to a mandrel upon which the web supply roll is mounted. The connection between the arm and the mandrel is by means of a one-way clutch. The accelerating force is accurately regulated and a dancer roll arrangement is provided not only for taking up variations in web tension but is so positioned that it may be observed While adjusting the accelerator and the motion of the dancer rolls is an accurate indication of the sufliciency of accelerator force input.

Another feature of the invention relates to a running web roll measuring arm of simple and reliable construction. The arm is pivoted and rides on the periphery of the running web roll while the roll is being depleted. At its outer end the arm carries a thin leaf spring which engages an adjustable stop screw as the running web approaches full depletion. The stop screw is so positioned that when the quantity of paper remaining upon the roll of running web is negligible but While the running web is still under tension the leaf spring finger escapes from the stop screw and closes a switch to initiate the web splicing operation for starting the ready web in motion.

Another feature of the present invention relates to a nip roll arrangement for pressing a length of pressure sensitive tape on the leading end of the ready web to the trailing end of the running Web. The nip rolls rotate continuously about stationary axes and each roll is formed with a driving rim which rotates in continuous contact with the rim of the other roll and each roll having a reduced diameter over which the web is guided. The rims not only permit a floating, self-correcting motion of the web between splices but also maintain continuous and accurate spacing between the reduced diameters of the rolls, the spacing being slightly less than the combined thicknesses of two webs and of the pressure sensitive tape used for forming the splice. Because the rolls rotate continuously there is no change in any frictional drag upon the web accompanying the formation of splices.

Other features including a slide mounted ready web vacuum holding plate, a single solenoid for triggering ready web acceleration, for initiating splice formation, and for cutting off the running web are also embodied in the present invention.

An additional feature relates to the construction of the mandrels upon which the web supply rolls are mounted. Each mandrel is constructed with a pair of pivoted flanged shoes which are spread outwardly by a cam to engage the inner diameter of a core supporting the web supply. Be cause the flanges are relieved, location of the supply roll is obtained from the paper rather than the core upon which it is wound, thus enabling each roll of web to run true in being consumed.

These and other features of the present invention as well as numerous advantages will be more fully appreciated from a detailed description of an illustrative embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of a web supply apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of the central portion of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, more particularly showing a splicing station;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of parts of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of nip rolls for forming splices in the present apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a View on an enlarged scale showing construction details of a web supply roll supporting mandrel;

FIG. 8 is a view partially in cross section of the mandrel of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a detail view illustrating the mounting of flanged shoes on the mandrel depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The general organization of the present apparatus is seen in FIG. 1 and includes a base plate 10 upon which are rotatably supported a pair of mandrel assemblies indicated at 12 and 14. Between the mandrels is located a splicing station comprising nip rolls indicated at 16 and 1S and below the splicing station there are supported on the plate, solenoids at 20 and 22. For absorbing changes in web tension particularly at the time of splice formation there is mounted on the plate 10 above the nip rolls l6 and 13, a dancer roll arrangement indicated at 24.

As depicted in FIG. 1 a roll 26 of cigarette paper supported on the mandrel assembly 12 is almost fully depleted as the running web and a stand-by roll 28 of ready web is about to be spliced to the trailing end of the roll 26 so as to maintain an uninterrupted supply of web passing through the dancer roll arrangement 24 to the web-consuming machine.

7 through a relatively shaft 32 havingouter races pressed in a mounting bushing 34 secured to the plate 10 by screws 36. The inner races of the bearings 30 are clamped to the shaft 32 against a shoulder' provided by an enlargement 38 on the shaft by a tubular spacer 49'between the inner races and a washer 42 through which passes a screw 44 into, threaded engagement with a tapped holein' the end of the shaft 32. 7

both rolls rotate continuously whether the web passes over one or both of the rolls on its way to the web-con- V suming machine;

Mounted'on the outer end of the shaft 32 isa circular 7 core plate 46 upoirwhich are pivotally supportedta pair of flanged shoes 48 urged together by a tension spring" 59. For spreading the shoes'48 apart thereis positioned,

between them a spreading cam 52lpin'ned to the inner end of a short shaft '54 journaled in the plate 46 and having an actuating arm 56 fixedlymountedon its outer end. 1 A detent pin 58 loosely fitted'to the distal end of the arm The roll 16 is rotatably supported upon a flanged stud 112 by spaced apart ball bearings 114 and the stud which 5 is formed with a concentric'pilot "116 entering a bored opening in the plate 1 0 is secured to the plate by screws 117 passing loosely through openings in the'flange. and

into threaded engagement With'tapped holes in the plate. 7

To facilitate adjustment of the roll 18 so as to bring its rim 110 into frictional engagement' with the rim 108 of the roll 16,. the roll 18 isrotatably supported on spaced apart ball bearings 118 mounted upon an eccentric flanged stud formed with a bearing supported "diameter 120. A pilot 122 machined eccentrically' with the diameter 120 enters thebore hole in the plate 10 and screws 124 passing 1 through arcuate slots in the flan'ge'of the eccentric stud are employedto clamp the stud in position after it has 56 enters an appropriate socket in the core plate-46 when t the cam 52 isoriented to spread the shoes 48 apart for In order to prevent the. supply roll'frorn slipping on the shoes 4%, pointed retainer supporting aweb supply roll.

studs 60 are secured in the shoes to, penetrate the inner diameter of acore 62 of the web supply roll. Since experience has shown that the edge surface of-lthe core 62 voften tends tobe irregular, the flanges 64 of the shoes have been relieved at 66 to avoid contacting the core, location 7 of the web'supply roll being obtained instead from the edge of the body of paper, engaging'the flanges 64 outside the relief 66 and from the internal diameter of the core,

' I For imparting to the web'supply roll the necessary aeceleration at the time of splice'fonnation there is mounted on the shaft 32 a unidirectional clutch assembly 'ilij,

such'as that manufactured by the Morse Chain Cofand made commercially available as Model B203. A 'lever 72 is fixedly secured to the outer or driving member of the clutch assembly 70 and a latch'74 is pivoted out-he plate It! to hold the arm in cocked'positio'ns Connected to an intermediate point along the length of the arm 72 is one end'of atension spring 76 havingits other end anchored 'to' a threaded studj78 passing loosely through an opening in a bracket 80; fixedly secured to th e plate 10'. A pair of the stud 78 and are adjusted to *vary the tension of the spring 76 and hence the torqueinput to the mandrelll from the arm 72 when the latch 74 is'release d. As'is seen in FIG.- lithe arm'72, upon release of the latch 74; travels.

short arc, itshmotionbeing arrested by a stop block SA fixedlymountedgupon the plate 10 for that purpose} opposed c'heck'nuts 82 are threaded onto- 5 7 web contacting faces of the plate 134, are perforated and been rotatedgto bring the rim l lo into'contactwith the rim108. a

The space126 between. the diameters 164,106 is designed to be very slightlyless than two web, thicknesses and that of the pressure sensitive tap-e 102so as to assure 1 reliable splice formation. lnjaddition, 1olls'16, 18, which 7 are made'of hardened and ground'steel are hard chromeplated to provide"wear-resistant web contacting surfaces so that the dimensional, accuracy of the spaceis main tainedl fThepresent nip roll configuration also oflers the very important advantage that after a splice has been formedgtheweb passing between the roll is free .to slide 1 a rially on the rolls thus permittingc'orrection of any mis- 7 tion o'f-a splice;

direction that. is imparted to'the we'biduring the forma- For supporting the readyweb before the formation of the splice there are fixedly-{mounted below the nip rolls 16, 18, trays and 132feach having an inclined surface on which the'appropriate web is received and a vertical "surface to'provide accurate lateral positioning of the 'web..

For supporting theleading end of-the re'ady web and'for advancingit into the space between the nip rolls there is provided a vacuum plate 134' 'mounted on a vertically orientedslide -1-361and connected to a vacuum source by a hose 1381"} The upperend of the vacuum plate=134 is indented on both sides, on the left (to assist in positioning the webi28 as shown in FIG. '2 and on theright forflocating the web 26 while the web 28 isthefrunning web The the perforations are in'comrnunication with'thefhose 133.

v by a pair of fixed' slide blocks rnounted on the ,plate.

Associated with the mandrel 14 which is constructed and arranged in exactly the same manner as the mandrel 12 is a' clutch assembly 86 havingits driving member connected to a torque input arm 88 held in cocked position by a latch 91). One end of a tension spring 2 is connected to an intermediate point along the length of the arm 88 and the other end is connected to a threaded stud 94 which passes loosely through an opening in abracket 96. A pair of opposed check nuts 98 are threaded to the stud 94 and are adjusted to vary the torque input to the mandrel 14. J

While the roll 26, the running webfis being consumed V the leadingend of the web roll 28, the ready web, is

manually prepared to be spliced to, the rollf26 when necesthe end to be adhesively 'joined to the web 26." For;

pressing the tape 102 against the web 26 to form the splice the nip rollsu16, 18 are formed with reduced diameters 104, 1-Q6-respectively, as vbest seen in FIG; 6. The rolls;

16 andlti arealso 110 which are disposed in frictional engagement so that provided respectively'with rims 168;

end portion of the armature 1601s va connected one ,endof a tension spring A cable 166 Land the lower end of theslide is receive a horizontal. arm of each of a pair of L-shaped levers 142'and 17 .4 pivoted on the platel10 at 146 and 148 respectively. The slide 136is'normally held in its lowertransversely slotted to 4 most or retracted position by a tension spring 15 0 having one end anchored to the plate 10"and' its other end .connected to the head of a shoulder scre'w 152 which passes loosely through a stop plate 154' andengages thethreads of a tappedhole in the lower end of the-slide sojhat the head of the screw limits the upward movement of "theslide when itis urgedupwardly by the imotion of either the lever 142or144. V l v 7 Motion is imparted tothe lever 142 by anarmature Whichi's drawn into the solenoidf22 whenlthe solenoid is energized as will be explained. Passing through the outer rod'162 towhich is is hooked to the other end of the spring 164 andsecured 'to the downwardly extending armiof the lever 142 by a set vscre'w'168. Similarly'operating connections areprovided'c for the lever, 144 andiinclude an armature associated *With the solenoid 20=and perforatedlat its outer end to receive a rod 172 j; A'CH'OIB 174' secured to a depending arm of the leverl i by a set screw 176 is connected to a" tens on spring 178'which'is in turn hooked onto the rod seen that whenever the'solenoid 20 or-22 172 'It is thus is energized to pull in its associated armature the lever 144 or 142 respectively is actuated to raise the distal end of its horizontal arm thus imparting an upward movement to the slide 136 and the plate 134 thus presenting the tape 102 into the nip between the rolls 16 and 18 to initiate the formation of a splice.

At the same time that the splice is formed it is neces sary that the trailing end of the prior running web be severed. For this purpose there are provided pivoted web severing blades 182 and 184 connected to the armatures 1'71) and 161 respectively. The blade 182 is pivoted at 186 and connected to the rod 172 by a tension spring 188. Cooperating with the blade 182 is a stationary blade 19% secured to an adjustable block 192 which is formed with a stem entering and opening in the plate 1% to be retained by a set screw 194 when positioned in cooperative relationship with the pivoted blade 182. Also secured to the block 192 is a guide plate formed with a pair of depending fingers 196 between which the web 26 passes to be laterally guided to the roll 16. While the web 26 is unwinding it passes over a ball bearing mounted guide roll 198, seen in FIG. 1, into spaced relation with the blade 1% and over the roll 16. When the blade 182 is pivoted to the dot and dash position of FIG. 2 the web 26 is raised into engagement with the blade 1% and immediately severed.

The blade 184 which is pivoted at 2% comprises a severing arrangement for the web 28 similar to that already described to the web 26. Associated with the blade 184 is a fixed blade 2112 mounted upon an adjustable block 204 retained on the plate 14) by a set screw 2116. Also secured to the block 264 and performing a lateral web guiding function is a plate formed with a pair of depending spaced apart fingers 208. The blade 134 is connected to the armature 169 of the solenoid 22 by a tension spring 21% extending between the rod 162 and the blade. While the web 28 is the running Web, it extends from the supply roll and passes under a ball bearing mounted guide roll 212, seen in FIG. 1, into spaced relation with the blade 202, between the fingers 268 under the roll 18 and thereafter over the roll 16.

Since the running web from the mandrel 14 is in contact with both nip rolls 16 and 18 whereas a running web from the mandrel 12 contacts the roll 16 only, a valuable added advantage is obtained by causing both nip rolls to rotate continuously. If the roll 18 were not in motion when the Web from the mandrel 18 is spliced and started as the running web, the newly spliced web traveling at high speed over the stationary roll would be abraded and because of its fragility, the web would frequently break immediately after passage of the splicing tape between the nip rolls. The continuously rotating nip roll arrangement, however, completely eliminates this difficulty.

The dancer roll arrangement 24 comprises ball bearing mounted rolls 214, 216, 218, 221i and 222 enumerated in the order of their contact with the web in its progress toward the web consuming machine. The rolls 214, 218 and 222 rotate about stationary axes on a mounting block or standard 226 fixedly secured to an upper edge of the plate 10. The rolls 216 and 220, on the other hand, are rotatably supported on a floating dancer block 228 bored to receive spaced apart guide tubes 230 through each of which loosely passes a guide rod 232. The block 226 fixedly supports one end of the guide rods 232 which extend in parallel relation and are received at their other end in a supporting block 234. The tubes 230 are pressed in the block 228 to provide a sufficiently accurate slide mounting for the dancer block which is urged away from the standard 226 by a pair of relatively light compression springs 236 one of which is wrapped about each guide rod 232. The springs 236 are so designed that under conditions of normal web tension the block 228 advances approximately one-third the distance from the block 234 to the block 226. The dancer arrangement 24 just described not only serves the very necessary purpose of absorbing slight variations in web tension but also serves as a gage for the adjustment of the tension of the springs '76 and 92 to provide the correct accelerating torque input to the mandrels 12 and 14.

When the latch is released at the time of forming a splice the arm 88 supplies a torque input to the mandrel 14- in proportion to the tension of the spring 92. If the spring 92 is under insufiicient tension to supply the necessary acceleration to the roll 28 the block 228 is drawn to the right against the bias of the springs 236 by the added tension on the web, and if web tension is excessive the web is most likely broken. If, on the other hand, the tension of the spring 92 is excessive the roll 28 is accelerated too rapidly and after the dancer block 228 has butted against the support 234, the loops of web about the rolls 214 to 222 inclusive are loosened and suddenly tightened, the shock frequently resulting in a broken web. The tension of the spring 92 is adjusted by observing repeated splices and the motion of the block 22% making corrective adjustments in the tension of the spring until motion of the block is minimized at the time that a new web supply roll on the mandrel 14 is set in motion. It will also be appreciated that the tension of the spring 76 for accelerating a web supply roll mounted on the mandrel 12 is also regulated by observing the movement of the block 228 at the time the related web supply roll is set in motion. Thus the dancer roll arrangement in the present apparatus serves not only to absorb variations in web tension but also as a most practical and accurate gage of the sufficiency of web supply accelerating force.

As shown in FIG. 1, a web supply roll mounted on the mandrel 12 is almost completely depleted and a ready web supply roll 28 on the mandrel 14 is prepared to be spliced to the web 26 when the solenoid 2% is energized. In the present apparatus, the splice is formed before the running web supply roll is fully depleted and while the running web is still under tension. This is accomplished by continuously measuring the running Web and initiating the splice when the roll has reached a predetermined size. F or this purpose there is associated with the web mounted on the mandrel '12 an arm 24% pivoted at 242 on a bracket 244 fixedly connected to and extending upwardly from the base plate 11). Also fixedly supported on the bracket 244 is a bendable finger 245 over which the web passes on its way from the roll 222 to the web consuming machine, the finger being oriented to deflect the edges of the web out of a plane parallel to the plate 10 in order to suit necessary installed locations of the apparatus. At the distal end of the arm 240, on a fixedly supported stud 246, there is secured a resilient spring finger 248 which engages an adjustable abutment in the form of a thumb screw 250 as the roll 26 is nearing depletion. Mounted in the path of the finger 248 but beneath the thumb screw 250 is a normally open switch 252. Until the roll 26 is sufficiently depleted that the finger 248 first engages the screw 25'!) the arm 240 serves to apply a light braking force to the roll 26. After the finger 248 has contacted the screw 259, the finger is gradually deflected upwardly under the weight of the arm 246 as the size of the roll 26 continues to decrease. As already mentioned, the paper supply is Wound on a core 62, shown in FIG. 8, and such cores are frequently distorted and do not rotate concentrically with the axis of the shaft 32. The first few layers of web nearest the core tend to confrom to the shape of the core and there is accordingly considerable run out of the top layer and corresponding motion of the arm 249 at the time that the finger 248 engages the screw 250. However, the relative positions of the screw 2511, switch 252 and the path of finger 248 are so designed that the finger 248 escapes from the screw and engages the actuating button of the switch to close it and keep it closed continuously when the thickness of paper remaining on the core has been reduced to the order of A and is of little value.

Associated with the roll 28 mounted on the mandrel 14 is a similar arrangement including an arm 256 pivoted at s in motion.

258 on a leftwardlyand upwardly extending bracket 260 and carrying at its distal end a flexible finger ZSZfixedly, V

supported upon a stud 264. A thumb screw 266is ad-.

justable in the path of the finger 262 and below the thumb screw there is mounted a normally open switch 268.:

The. operation of the apparatus will be understood with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, commencing at the time that r the finger 2-48 escapes from the screw 259 and closes the switch 252. Upon closure of switch 252 the solenoid 2% is energized at 1 17 volts*A.C. and the latch Qh which is connected to the armature'170by a cable 27% is released to start the mandrel 114 and its ready web supply roll '28 oting-of the lever 1-44 through the cable .174 'and spring .178 to raise the leadingend of the pressure sensitive tape 102 into the nip between'the rolls 16 and 18. 7 At the same time the movement of the armature 17% causes the Movement of the armature 170 causes piv- With a rim in frictional engagement with the other to -cause both rolls to be driven continuously by movement of the running web, means for presenting the leading end of the readyweb, to the'nip rolls, means for severing the running web, a uuidirectionalclutch coupled to; each mandrel, a'torque input arm connected to each clutch, a spring connected to each input arm and urging the arm in web accelerating direction, a latch retaining each arm against the urging of the spring and means for-releasing blade 182 to pivot into engagement with th e underside f of the web 26 and to press itagainst-the stationary blade;

' 190 thus severing the web '26 a few inchesfrom the point of attachment to the leading end" of the tape Hi2. -While the web consuming machine is being supplied by the roll 23 on themandrell the core of the exhausted r011 26 is removed'and a full roll is mounted on the mandrel 12 with the arm-240 is contact with its periphery, Movement of the arm 24ltaway from'the switch 252 causes the switch to be opened and'th'e' solenoid 22 deenergized. so that the accelerating arm 72 may thenbemanually drawn back against thespring 7-6 and'cocked in'engagernent with the latch 74. The leading end of the websupply roll mounted on the mandrel 12 is prepared with a length :of 7

pressure sensitive tapelike the length 102 andis then the latch ,in response to depletion of the running web roll to be a predetermined diameter.

4. Web supply apparatus eomprising a base, a pair of mandrels. on the base, one for supporting a roll of ready web the leading end of which is prepared with a length of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and the other for supportirigarol-l of running web, a :single pair of nip rolls rotatable about stationary axes forforming a splice byapressingjthe :pressure-sensitiveftape intocontact with 'yt-he runningzweb, means vfor presenting the leading end laid over the roll warms the traylfiti, and into "the nest in the right hand face of the vacuum holding plate 134 in readiness, for the next splice whenthe r0111 28 is depleted. When the switch 268 is closed by thefinger of the ready webflto the nip rolls, means for severing the running W6b,. an accelerator .for the ready web supply, rnean"s' including a .singlesolenoid energized upon deplection of the web from each mandrel for actuating .the webpresentingmeansf-the severing Jmeans and the acceler-ator, a' measuring armlengagingthe periphery of the running Web, a leaf spring carried by the arm and 262 the solenoid 22 is energized causing release ofthe latch 74 which is connected to the armature 160 by 'acable "272 and thus sets into motion the Web suppiy'roll mounted on the mandrel 12;" At thesame time the arm, 142 is pivoted to cause the'leading' end. of the tape to be inserted into the nip between the rolls 16 and 18 and the a normally open. switch in series with thesolenoid and in the path of the-sp ing to be cIosed by the spring upon depletion of the running web roll to a predetermined t fdiameter.

blade 184 is'pivoted into'engagementwith the web 2 8 which is thereby severed againsttheblade 262. There-- 7 after the core from the depleted roll on the mandrel 14p replaced manually while the web is being supplied from the" mandrel '12.. i V

Having thus described our invention whatfwe claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the. United States is: V i

1. Web supply apparatus comprising a base, a pair of mandrels on the'base, one forsupporting a relief runfth e'sh aft andfa latch for holding the arm in cocked position and a solenoid energized in response to deplereleasing the latch.

ning web and the other for supporting'a roll of ready Web,

the leading" end of the ready web carrying a length of pressure-sensitiveadhesive tape, a pairof nip rollsforrned, with spaced'ap'art web contacting diameters and withlarger diameters in frictional engagement to cause both i rolls-to be driven continuously by the movement of the S.=Webl supply apparatus comprising a base, a'pair of mandrels on the :base, one :for supporting. aroll of ready web prepared to be joined to'a running web by a length of. pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and the other for supporting a roll of running web, eaeh inandrel including a shaft rotatably supported on the base, a pair of flanged 7 shoes pivoted on the shaft and canr means for spreading theshoes apart to engage a Web supply roll, a pair of rolls,-.anaccelerator including a spring loaded arm, a unidirectional "clutch'int'erposed between the arm and tion;of the running web to a predetermined diameter for 6. .Web supply apparatus comprising .a base, a pair of mandrels on the; base, one for supporting a roll of ready web having va leading end, prepared for splicing with a length of pressure-sensitiveadhesive tape and the other for supporting a roll of running Web, a pair of nip rolls driven continuously by'rnovement ofthe web,- means web, means for presenting the leading end .of the ready 7 web to the nip rolls, means for severing the running web, anaccelerator for theready web supply'and a single ac; tuating means energized in response to depletion ofzthe running web rollto a predeterminedsize for rendering operative the web' presenting means, the severing means, and the accelerator.

'2. Web supply apparatus comprising a base,.a pair of mandrels on the base, one for supporting a roll of running web and the other for supportinga rollfof ready web, the leading end of the ready web: carrying a length of pressure-sensitiveadhesive tape, a pair of-nip -rolls,

means including a slide mounted vacuum plate for presenting the leading end of the ready web to the .nip rolls,

means for severing-the running web, an adjustable ac-' celer ator for the ready web supply and dancer roll means wbladev t-oisever the running web a including a slidably supported vacuum Plate for present i-ng the'leading end of a ready Web from either mandrel to the nip rolls, apair of stationary blades one along the path of a r unningweb from each mandrel, a pivoted 7, blade cooperatively associated with each stationary blade, an accelerator coupled to, each mandrel and actuating means operating in response todepletion of the running web roll to. aipredetermined diameter for moving the vacuum plate to web-presenting position, for pivoting the nd for triggering the accelerator of the ready'web. f

7. Web supply tappanatustcomprisin-g a base, a pair of .m'andrels on the'base,.one for supporting a roll of ready web prepared foresplicing by a length of pressure-semi tive adhesive tape at its leading end and the other for supporting a roll of. running web, apair of nip rolls each formed with a rim contacting-the other and. also with a reduced Web-engaging diameter, the reduced diameters defining between them a space having a width slightly less than the thickness of two webs and of the pressure-sensitive tape whereby the tape is pressed to the crunning web to form a splice and the web between splices is free for corrective axial sliding movement in the space, means for presenting the leading end of the ready web to the nip rolls, means for severing the running web and an accelerator for the ready web supply roll.

8. Web supply apparatus comprising a base, a pair of mandrels on the base, each adapted to support a roll of ready web the leading end of which is prepared with a length of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or a roll of running Web, being fed to a web-consuming machine, means for splicing the ready web by pressing the tape against the running web including a pair of nip rolls rotatably mounted on fixed axes on the plate between the mandrels and driven continuously by movement of the running web, a slidably mounted vacuum plate, a

pair of levers for moving the plate from an inactive position to a web presenting position, severing means including a stationary blade and a movable blade along the path of webs from each of the two mandrels and a single actuating means including a solenoid energized in response to depletion of the running web roll to a predetermined size for operating the related lever to effect presentation of the ready web to the nip rolls and cfior actuating the blade to sever the running Web.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,973,363 9/34 Wood 24258.1 2,706,516 4/55 'Evers 156-504 2,772,055 1=1/56 Klingelfuss 24258.4 3,089,661 5/63 Phillips et a1. l56504 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner. 

1. WEB SUPPLY APPARATUS COMPRISING A BASE, A PAIR OF MANDRELS ON THE BASE, ONE FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF RUNNING WEB AND THE OTHER FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF READY WEB, THE LEADING END OF THE READY WEB CARRYING A LENGTH OF PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE, A PAIR OF NIP ROLLS FORMED WITH SPACED APART WEB CONTACTING DIAMETERS AND WITH LARGER DIAMETERS IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT TO CAUSE BOTH ROLLS TO BE DRIVEN CONTINOUSLY BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE WEB, MEANS FOR PRESENTING THE LEADING END OF THE READY WEB TO THE NIP ROLLS, MEANS FOR SEVERING THE RUNNING WEB, AS ACCELERATOR FOR THE READY WEB SUPPLY AND A SINGLE ACTUATING MEANS ENERGIZED IN RESPONSE TO DEPLETION OF THE RUNNING WEB ROLL TO A PREDETERMINED SIZE FOR RENDERING OPERATIVE THE WEB PRESENTING MEANS, THE SEVERING MEANS, AND THE ACCELERATOR. 